Before Saturday’s 49-35 loss to Texas A&M, the ISU football team had nearly as many punts as it did points in recent weeks.

The Cyclone offense (2-6, 0-4 Big 12) couldn’t keep pace on the scoreboard with the Aggies but never punted, rebounding from miserable offensive performances against Baylor and Nebraska.

After taking steps backward in the past two weeks, senior wide receiver R.J. Sumrall thought the ISU offense was “back even” after Saturday’s game.

“Those past two games, we sucked … I tell it straight,” Sumrall said. “This game, we showed that we can show up, and step up, and help our team.”

Iowa State ranked last in the Big 12 in total first downs (113) and third down-conversion percentage (30.6) through its first seven games. The Cyclones racked up 34 first downs against the Aggie defense, which statistically is the worst in the Big 12.

The Cyclones created scoring opportunities and sustained drives throughout the game, converting on 12 of 17 third downs (71 percent).

“[The offense was] productive. They moved the football, they threw it, they ran it better [Saturday],” coach Gene Chizik said. “But at the end of the day, if you can’t play defense — well, you don’t win.”

The Aggies scored touchdowns on seven of their 10 possessions. Iowa State drove into Texas A&M territory on all 10 of its possessions but kicked four field goals — missing two.

Running back Alexander Robinson gave the Cyclones an early lead, ending the opening drive of the game with a one-yard touchdown run. In their two previous games, the Cyclones scored 10 and seven points against Baylor and Nebraska, respectively.

Iowa State drove into its opponent’s 20-yard line just three times in those games, punting 15 times and straining the defense by forcing them back onto the field.

On Saturday, sophomore quarterback Austen Arnaud kept the chains moving, throwing for a career-high 371 yards on 26 of 41 passing and also gaining 99 yards rushing. True freshman receiver Darius Darks said that when “Arnaud is on, everyone is on.”

Darks also said the offense’s past failure served as motivation.

“When you hear you’re the worst, you’ve got to think about every team that is out there,” he said. “I mean, I wouldn’t think that we were the worst team in the Big 12, and to hear that we have one of the worst offenses, it kind of makes you mad.”

Iowa State has struggled to run the ball throughout the season, but had 24 rushes for 136 yards in the first half. Injuries to offensive lineman Mike Knapp and Ben Lamaak, as well as the Aggies’ growing lead, forced the Cyclones to abandon the run.

The members of the passing game were ready to step up. Sumrall said the receivers practiced in their cleats last Friday, while the rest of the team did the pre-game walk-through in tennis shoes.

“We had to run full-speed routes to give the quarterback and everybody confidence,” Sumrall said. “I think it worked.”

Darks said the loss was “kind of a bittersweet thing,” because the offense played well. Sumrall had nine catches for a career-high 143 yards, but said the Cyclone sixth-straight loss felt the same as the others.

“It’s frustrating to lose, no matter how good or how bad you do,” the senior said. “It’s all the same. Losing is losing, and we hate it.”